Centennial Plaza coming soon

East St. Paul's Centennial Plaza is taking shape on the north side of the municipal office and according to the project's landscape architect, it's going to feel a lot like home.

"It's like the front porch of the civic building, so it's going to be welcoming and it's going to be an interactive place for the community," says Bhavana Bonde, manager of landscape architecture for Architecture49.

"It's essentially doing the function of what a porch does, people can enjoy talking to each other and it's a place for small events or a place for people to play board games."

Centennial Plaza is the RM's legacy project in recognition of it's 100th anniversary last year. Bonde says it was designed with functionality in mind, but also the municipality's heritage, which includes farming, market gardening and quarries.

She says a mixture of different sized and textured paving stones will reflect farming fields, gardens - which will feature native plants and an area for community members to plant a perennial garden - are a nod to market gardening and stone benches represent the RM's quarry past.

"It's a representation of culture and heritage of East St. Paul," she said.

There will also be five stone displays where works from the Artists of East St. Paul will be displayed.

The bell from the former St. Catherine Anglican Church will be featured as well as a pavilion.

Mayor Shelley Hart said as a legacy project, Centennial Plaza ticks all the boxes, paying tribute to the municipality's history, involving local artists in its development and creating a space that everyone can enjoy.

"It's a great project to recognize our centennial year and it helps create community, which is something we've really been focused on," Hart said.

"We have the Farmers Market and that provides a gathering place on Sundays in the summer. The Centennial Plaza will be available to people 365 days a year and that's a wonderful way to celebrate history while creating new history."

WSP is the project manager and consulting engineer on the project. J&D Penner Ltd., is the contractor. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year. A grand opening celebration will be announced at a later date.

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